Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-20
APPARENTLY REASONABLE.
The Solution Hon. Lee Mantle Offers
the County Board Of Their Puzzle.

ments on the Equalization Board and
Have Them Confirmed by the Mex
Session-Some Discussion of the Reve
nue. Law by One Of Its Sponsors.
The Hon. Lee Mantle was yesterday &C
costed by a MINER representative and, a.
wa natural, the conversation turned upor
the revenue bill which is now the subject o
50 much concern to the County Commits
s~ioners. Il think" said Mr.. Mantle, among
other remarks, that when the legislation
of last year is viewed fairly it will be found
to compare favorably with that passed al
any other legislative session in Montana
| Of course. I'm no lawyer and cannot cay
positively that the defects apparent in the
revenue law are or are not insuperable.
Mind, l don't say they are not. but ii
seems to me that a way could be found out
| of the difficulty concerning the Board OF
Equalization, for instance, by the Cover.
| nor appointing the representatives from
the j judicial Districts and they acting as
though confirmed by the Council. You
know that if the appointments had been
made and confirmed by the Council that,
if one of the appointees had died after the
adjournment, the Governor could appoint
a successor and he would be confirmed or
rejected at the next session. So | don't
see why the Governor could not make Ills
appointments now and they could act as
the revenue law provides and be confirmed
or rejected by the next session."
And do you think there would be no in
formality about their proceedings which
would give the railroads an opportunity
to resist the assessment they might make
on legal grounds" inquired The MINER
representative.
"As to the railroads. l don't apprehend
the least resistance. l was privately as
sured by a gentleman representing the
Northern Pacific that that road would
take advantage Of no technicalities. No.
l have no apprehension OF the railroads
making any fight. Let me tell you, it
would be the worst thing they ever did
should they fight any tax on technical
grounds. We have them where they can't
move. Should they resist a tax on techni-
grounds, what would be the result?
Why, at the next session OF the legislature
we would get even with them in a way that
would make them sorry they ever tried
any game like that
How did the Attorney General get into
the section creating the Territorial Board?
though there was no such officer
well, Thompson OF Custer, who intro
ANS%O N-N y IL ~ NAAcl
thai an act was pending creating the
oiice O! attorney general and he supposed
it would pass, which, undoubtedly. it would
for the fact that a certain gentleman in
Helena stood at the head of the list for the
appointment and We didn't think him a
good enough lawyer for the position and SO
the bill rather than create the
office to have it inefficiently filled. The
States District Attorney is the high
st law officer in the Territory, but he only |
represents the United States Government
n civil and criminal cases, and OF course
not act as attorney general"
well. what merit has the bill over the
present revenue law, Mr.. Mantle?"
'Oh, the old revenue law was a farce.
The whole system of taxation under it is
auIty. An entire change was eeded which
would relieve mercantile pursuits and in
~ustries and place the burden where it
belongs, namely On real estate
This the new bill. 1 think.
[oes. 1t introduces a system into the
Territory, and while it may impose hard
hips on some officers. it will result
'enefciallv in the end. We can't
re going on all through time
q the chaotic condition in which things
ave been going on. AnG then, again, you
austn't judge Of any arts value as a law
y the clamor raised against it by Office
olders whom it affects. 1 take no stock
I that. If they nave more duties imposed
pom them they always have as much as
stance as they need in their Offices to help
Now take the provisions in section
O., l think, OF the revenue act requiring the
ounty Clerks to furnish the Assessor with
correct list of the real estate in each
ounty and it's ownership. Nothing of that
has been attempted hitherto. but it
as got to be done some time CT other. 1t
ont do to go along in the chaotic old
stem. The time has come when a man
ben he buys property can know at once
Ow clear his title il back to the patent. It
SO among all the older settled communi- I
es and must be begun here some time and I
well as better first or last. The task is |
pretty hard one. but the County Clerks 7
e allowed extra help and it is an abso- E
te necessity" 6
Don't you think the Assessor is rather c
ardIy dealt with requiring him to assess q
| property on the first of June?' asked c
Re reporter.
l had an impression that he had
the first OF September, and / don't
how the change was made. But as
r that. you know very we'll that these
ties ire not compulsory. Why. here in
80 oANo o1ic"SA ~ l0h L
ter the first OF December are charged an L
lditional 10 per cent, and this year they ;,
dn't add it until the first Of January" Il
Then you think the present law good 7
ough as it is, Mr.. Mantleo" )
Understand me. don't say that its
as you call them, can be "
t round legally in the way l intimate, t
It il it ever gets a fair chance it will be t
and to be a far superior law to the late
e." W
We'll, if the Governor does not take the a
urse you indicate, what will the County G
m mIssioners do for revenueo"
Well, IN no lawyer, but should sup E,
Sc they could go or and levy under the .,
system. The only alternative is to call 8
extra session to remedy the bills de- '
IS. But whatever action is taken to-
I'd the railroads l am confident they will II
er no objection to paying whatever they !"
assessed by whatever mode is decided =.
on, for they can't afford to make a kick. II
have them where they can't help them
"
IL
MAlDE GRANGER. al